Other diseases of vocal cords

This code represents a range of non-specific or less common pathologies affecting the vocal cords, excluding acute or chronic laryngitis, polyps, nodules, or specific paralytic conditions. It encompasses various structural or functional abnormalities of the vocal cords that don't fit into more defined diagnostic categories.

Use this code when documentation indicates a vocal cord disorder that is not otherwise specified or falls outside of common diagnoses like vocal cord polyps, nodules, or paralysis. Examples include vocal cord granulomas, cysts, or other benign lesions not explicitly coded elsewhere. Supporting documentation should clearly describe the vocal cord pathology.

• Avoid using this code if a more specific ICD-9-CM code exists for the vocal cord condition (e.g., 478.4 for vocal cord polyps).
• Ensure the physician's documentation clearly identifies the vocal cord as the affected structure and describes the nature of the "other" disease.
• Consider sequencing this code as a primary diagnosis if it is the main reason for the encounter, or as a secondary diagnosis if it is a co-morbidity.